Habakkuk 3

Habakkuk 3
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The beginning of Habakkuk Commentary, 1QpHab, among the Dead Sea Scrolls from the 1st century BC.
Book	Book of Habakkuk
Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Bible part	35
Category	Nevi'im

Habakkuk 3 is the third (and the last) chapter of the Book of Habakkuk in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.^[1][2] This book contains the prophecies spoken by the prophet Habakkuk, and is a part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets.^[3][4]

Text

• The original text is written in Hebrew.
• Some of the most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter are:
  • In Hebrew:
    • Masoretic Text
  • In Greek:
    • Septuagint (3rd century BC)
• This chapter is divided into 19 verses.

Structure

This chapter can be grouped

• Habakkuk 3:1 = Title
• Habakkuk 3:2-16 = The Prophet’s Prayer
• Habakkuk 3:17-19 = A Hymn of Faith

Verse 1

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.^[5]

Verse 19

The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet,

and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.^[6]

Masoretic text:

יהוה אדני חילי וישם רגלי כאילות ועל במותי ידרכני למנצח בנגינותי׃

Transliteration:

YHWH a·do·nai khi·li wai·ya·syem rag·lai ka·'ai·ya·lot

we·'al ba·mo·tai yad·ri·khe·ni

lam·na·tze·akh bin·gi·no·tai.

Verse 19 note

• The phrase "make my feet like hinds' feet" is similar to the phrases in Psalm 18:33 or 2 Samuel 22:34
• The last word of the verse (and of the Book of Habakkuk) נגינותי׃, neginotai is translated as "my stringed instruments", originally from plural form of the Hebrew word נְגִינַת, neginath. The word is also found in the beginning of some psalms, namely Psalm 4; Psalm 6; Psalm 54; Psalm 55; Psalm 67; Psalm 76

Discussion

Some scholars suggest that Chapter 3 may be a later independent addition to the book,^[7] in part because it is not included among the Dead Sea Scrolls. However, this chapter does appear in all copies of the Septuagint, as well as in texts from as early as the 3rd century BC.^[7] This final chapter is a poetic praise of God, and has some similarities with texts found in the Book of Daniel. However, the fact that the third chapter is written in a different style, as a liturgical piece, does not necessarily mean that Habakkuk was not also its author.^[8] Its omission from the Dead Sea Scrolls is attributed to the inability of the Qumran sect to fit Habakkuk's theology with their own narrow viewpoint.^[9]

See also

• Other related Bible parts: 2 Samuel 22, Psalm 4, Psalm 6, Psalm 7, Psalm 18, Psalm 54, Psalm 55, Psalm 67, Psalm 76.

Bibliography

• Baker, David W. (1988). Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press. ISBN 0-87784-249-3.
• Cross, F. L. & Livingston, E. A., eds. (2005). The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280290-9.
• Széles, Mária Eszenyei (1987). Wrath and Mercy: A Commentary on the Books of Habakkuk and Zephaniah. International Theological Commentary. trans. George A. F. Knight. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0242-7.

References

1. Halley, Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary. 23rd edition. Zondervan Publishing House. 1962.
2. Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.
3. J. D. Davis. 1960. A Dictionary of The Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House.
4. Therodore Hiebert, et.al. 1996. The New Intrepreter's Bible: Volume: VII. Nashville: Abingdon.
5. Habakkuk 3:1
6. Habakkuk 3:19
7. Baker (1988), p. 46.
8. Cross (2005).
9. Széles (1987), p. 9.

External links

Historic manuscripts

• The Commentary on Habakkuk Scroll, The Digital Dead Sea Scrolls, hosted by the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Jewish translations

• Chavakuk – Habakkuk (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org

Christian translations

• Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• Habakkuk public domain audiobook at LibriVox Various versions

Further information

• A Brief Introduction to The Prophecy of Habakkuk for Contemporary Readers (Christian Perspective)
• Introduction to the book of Habakkuk from the NIV Study Bible
• Introduction to the Book of HabakkukForward Movement Publications